Cpl. Ed McCarthy of the Lake County Marine Veteran Honor Guard visits with Army veteran Raymond Woods Friday at the Menorah Park Mandel Adult Day Care Center in Beachwood.

Over this Memorial Day weekend, busy will be the operative word for Art Root of Fairport Harbor, Newell Beaumier of Burton and Ted Makse of Mentor.

These area residents are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Root, a 74-year-old Fairport Harbor resident, was on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1962. Beaumier, 72, of Burton, served in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1966. Mentor resident Makse, 71, also is a Navy veteran. He served from 1956 to 1963.

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Close in age and sharing a lifelong devotion to flag and country, these three men continue to render service as members of veterans organizations that will participate in an array of events today and Monday.

Root is sergeant-of-the-guard for the Lake County Marine Veterans Honor Guard, and he says the 30-member unit stays busy year-round.

The roster of activities includes funerals and graveside services for deceased veterans, visits to nursing homes and hospitals, marching in parades and manning "Toys for Tots" drop-off sites.

"We had 272 details last year," Root said.

On Friday, Root and fellow honor guard members traveled to Beachwood to spend time with clients at Menorah Park's Mandel Adult Day Care Center.

"This is a special group of men. We're lucky to have them come visit us," said Joan Kerr, the center's director of activities."

On Monday, the Lake County Marine Veterans Honor Guard will be front and center when the Mentor Memorial Day Parade steps off at Heinen's and ends at Mentor Cemetery.

"Every day is a blessing from God," Root said. "If you're feeling sorry for yourself, go to the cemetery and look down at the grave markers. Two of the Marines I served with were dead by the time they were 40."

Beaumier is sergeant-at-arms of the American Legion Atwood Mauck Post 459 Honor Guard and Burial Guard.

"We have 14 members, and we're the only unit of its kind in Geauga County," he said.

Last week, unit members put flags on the graves of an estimated 400 veterans in five Geauga County cemeteries.

They'll gather at 2 p.m. today to present the colors and fire a three-volley rifle salute at the Geauga County Veterans Memorial in Chardon.

At 11 a.m. Monday, they'll be in the Memorial Day parade that begins at Berkshire High School and ends at the gazebo on Burton village square. After the parade, the unit will offer another three-volley salute during a gathering at the Veterans Memorial in Welton Cemetery.

"What motivates me more than anything else is the U.S. flag," Beaumier said. "That flag isn't just cloth and color. It's a living entity, the holy grail of this great nation."

After the ceremony Monday at the cemetery, there will be a community picnic at Post 459, 14052 Goodwin Ave.

Attendees are urged to make donations to Post 459's "Stuff the Truck" campaign to collect personal care items, books, puzzle books, magazines, candy and gum for distribution to veterans in hospitals and nursing homes.

Beaumier's wife, Judy, belongs to the Post 459 Auxiliary and is coordinating the campaign.

"These men had each other's backs in the service. They have each other's backs now," Judy Beaumier said.

Newell Beaumier said members of the Honor Guard and Burial Guard come together at least 60 times a year.

They take particular pride in paying tribute to deceased veterans at funerals and graveside services.

"These men and women unselfishly gave up their todays so we all can all have our tomorrows," Beaumier said. "In rain, sleet, heat, wind and snow, we're there as a point of honor."

Makse is outgoing commander of Amvets Post 109 in Mentor-on-the-Lake. And as has been the case since the late 1960s, members of the post's honor guard will march in the city's Memorial Day Parade.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. today at Dale R. Rice Elementary School and ends at Mentor Beach Park. At the park, a wreath will be placed at the flagpole while the honor guard offers a 21-gun salute.

"A lot of people honor veterans 365 days a year in their own ways, but it's nice to have Memorial Day and Veterans Day when communities can acknowledge their service," Makse said.

After the ceremony at Mentor Beach Park, the public is invited to attend a picnic featuring hot dogs, chips and beverages at Amvets Post 109, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd.